A grieving mum whose baby lived for only 13 hours after contracting an infection during birth has told poignantly how she spent days cuddling, bathing and dressing the infant after she had died.
Having always wanted a family, Amy Harford, 19, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was delighted to discover she was expecting a little girl with partner Scot Beacom, also 19.
But she was left devastated when Mia, who seemed perfectly healthy when she was born, died from group B strep infection.
After Mia passed, Amy was able to stay with her girl for two days, bathing, holding and dressing her, thanks to the hospital’s special cuddle cot – which comes with a cooling mattress to stop deterioration.
Starting a family: Amy Harford, 19, and Scot Beacom, also 19, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, were delighted when daughter Mia (pictured) was born on May 14. The infant died just 13 hours later
Precious memories: The parents spent two days bathing, dressing and cuddling their daughter after she died. Pictured, a photo taken of the family in the hours after Mia’s death
Intensive care: Mia, pictured shortly before she died, contracted a group B strep infection. The hospital placed her in a cuddle cot – which comes with a cooling mattress to stop deterioration
She continued: ‘I didn’t stay overnight as I found it too hard, but I came back every morning for two days, then visited her again in the funeral home.
‘All I wanted to do was to hold her as much as I could. With the cuddle cot, I was able to wash her with some water and cotton pads the midwives gave me.
‘Then I dressed her in a little pink ballerina outfit. I’d got it at my baby shower from my aunt, and we’d planned to bring her home from hospital in it.
‘The whole family came to say goodbye while Mia was in the cuddle cot, and create those precious memories. I’m so thankful we have them to look back on.’
Born weighing 8lb 5oz on 14 May this year, Mia was seemingly healthy, crying as normal and enjoying a cuddle with her loving parents.
After the birth, the newborn and her mother went to sleep together – but when they woke, little Mia’s lips began turning blue, and she made a worrying sound like a tiny grunt or snore.
Touching: The parents dressed Mia in a ballerina skirt they had hoped to take her home in. The two days they had with their infant daughter in hospital gave them time to say goodbye
Saying goodbye: Parents Scot and Amy cradling baby Mia in the hospital after she died
Tests showed she had contracted a group B strep infection.
Group B strep bacteria is common in pregnant women and rarely causes problems, but tragically in little Mia’s case, her body could not fight the lethal illness it caused.
Just 13 hours after arriving into the world, she took her final breath.
Amy, a carer for dementia patients at The Orders of St John Care Trust, said: ‘We were allowed to see Mia just before she passed. I gave her a kiss on her hand, and it was at that point her heart rate began slipping away.
‘It’s like she’d waited to say goodbye.’
Although it came as a surprise, Amy was delighted to discover she was expecting a little girl late last year.
Excited, she and Scot began buying everything they needed for their new arrival.
Her first pregnancy, Amy suffered badly with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), the same prolonged, severe morning sickness condition experienced by Kate Middleton.
Treasured moments: Amy said she was glad she had time to make memories with her daughter
Tribute: Mia’s funeral took place on 12 June 2018, four years to the day after the funeral of Amy’s grandmother Edna. They were even held at the same time. Above, the orders of service
She explained: ‘It was really awful sickness, to the point where I was hospitalised with dehydration.
‘But after the 20-week mark, things got much better and it ended up being a really nice pregnancy.
‘I was so excited to become a parent. I couldn’t imagine what it’d be like, but I couldn’t wait. We’d planned a trip to Butlins for September, when she’d have been about four months old.’
Then, at a routine scan in May, it was discovered Mia was growing three weeks ahead of schedule – prompting doctors to decide to induce her at Royal United Hospital in Bath, Somerset.
Excited: Amy had always wanted to have a family and was delighted to find she was pregnant with her first child with Scot. Pictured, the mother-to-be at 37 weeks pregnant
Preparations: The parents were given gifts of shoes and clothes for their baby and looked forward to meeting her. Pictured, some of Mia’s clothes alongside her 12-week scan
Amy continued: ‘It was actually a really nice labour, I really enjoyed it. Mia had a strong heartbeat and was born a healthy weight – but soon, everything started going wrong.’
Realising something was the matter, doctors whisked Mia to the neonatal intensive care unit to run blood tests – which revealed that she had contracted a group strep B infection.
According to the NHS, up to two in five people have the bacteria living in their body, and it is especially prevalent in pregnant women.
Most of the time, it is harmless, but in around 1 in 1,750 pregnancies, it can spread to the baby during labour and cause problems.
‘That’s what happened in my case,’ added Amy. ‘The doctors think Mia picked up the infection as she passed through the birth canal.
Thoughtful: Whilst Mia was staying in the special cuddle cot, a charity called Remember My Baby sent a professional photographer to take pictures of her, including this one above
Remembered: A beautiful floral tribute was given to Amy and Scot following Mia’s death
‘There were no symptoms before the birth, so I’d never have known I was carrying the bacteria. Doctors have told me it wasn’t my fault, but in a way I do blame myself.’
As the infection took hold, Mia went into cardiac arrest three times.
Two times, medics were able to bring her round – giving Scot and Amy the chance to see and kiss her.
Then, when heart rate plummeted again, the anxious parents were sent to wait in a family room nearby.
And tragically, this time there was nothing more doctors could do for Mia.
‘That final time, they couldn’t save her. The doctor came into the family room. and said he was very sorry, but Mia had died,’ said Amy. ‘I was so shocked. It had all happened so quickly. One minute she was here, and the next she was gone.’
Whilst Mia was staying in a special cuddle cot, a charity called Remember My Baby sent a professional photographer to take pictures of her – something Amy now treasures.
On 13 June – almost a month after she was born – the tragic tot was laid to rest.
Gone too soon: Amy and Scot released pink balloons to remember their daughter. Mia was buried on 13 June, almost a month after she died after contracting the illness
‘The funeral date was the same as my nan Edna’s, who’d died in 2014. Even the time was the exact same – 3:15pm,’ said Amy. ‘We hadn’t planned it that way, it was all a coincidence.
‘But I felt like it was Nan watching over Mia, telling us it would be okay.’
Now, determined that her girl’s death will not be in vain, Amy is working tirelessly to raise awareness of group strep B.
Recently, she banded together with her The Orders of St John Care Trust colleagues to cycle almost 700 miles on stationary bikes to raise money for the charity Group B Strep Support (GBSS), whose goal is to eradicate the infection in babies. Together, the team raised more than £1,000.
Speaking out during Group B Strep Awareness month 2018, Amy said: ‘Scot and I had prepared everything we needed for Mia – her pram, her clothes, her Moses basket, her changing station.
Taking action: Amy, left, and her mother at a charity ride to raise money for the charity Group B Strep Support (GBSS), whose goal is to eradicate the infection in babies
‘Coming home to see all that without her was incredibly difficult, but we haven’t felt ready to pack it all away yet.
‘People sometimes don’t know what to say to grieving parents, but I appreciate being asked about Mia. It’s important to talk about my daughter and share her story.
‘I’m also so thankful for my friends, family and colleagues. There is no pain like losing a child, but I will never forget Mia.’
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